Adjustable and interchangeable form for hollow wall construction



Dec. 4, 1928.

I. J. KUERT ADJUSTABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE FORM FOR HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet H 5 M. Y g m m M w m J Full! W m O 1 f? .N d/ v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l. J. KUERT Filed Feb. 1925 ADJUSTABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE FORM FOR HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTION Dec. 4, 1928.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES IRA. J. KUERT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. r

PATENT OFFICE.

' Application filed February This invention relates to adjustment and interchangeable forms for hollow wall construction. r

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved form which may be used for the purpose of constructing build ing structures with hollow portions.

One of the specific objects of the invention is to provide an improved form member wherein a plurality of members are arranged to provide a closed form and wherein a novel means is provided for causing contraction of the form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form wherein novel spacing members are provided for holding the form in expanded and collapsed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple unit hollow form whereby the long forms may be readily removed from a structure.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a section of a portion. of a building structure showing the use of my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of one of my interchangeable forms; Fig. 3 is a top plan View of one of the forms; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in another position; Fi 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a unit composed of two members showing the members in operative position; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the members in the act of being removed; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail showing the manner in which the two portions of the unit are superimposed; Fig. 8 is a section on'line 8-8, Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a wrench; Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary elevations show ing a modified form of operating bar; Fig. 12 is a top plan view showing a further use of my invention; Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of amodified form and Fig. 14 is a section on line l4-14, Fig. 2. v

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown. a form embodying the features of my invention at 10. This form comprises as shown in the preferred form, four wall members 11, 12, 14 and 15. Each of these wall members as will be seen by referring to Fig. 3 comprises a side portion and an end portion.

The wall members overlap at the sides and sectional area after which the a 1925. Serial No. 7,855. I

at the ends to form a body which is closed except at its ends. The form held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a mechanism to be presently described, is used in building construction and after the material, which may be concrete, has been placed around it, and has cured, the form is removed by first contracting it so that it is reduced in cross form may be removed.

' Before my invention forms for making hollow walls have been. used but my im proved form, in addition to its use single also enables me to build up a unitary form comprising several connected forms which are so related that by continuous operation the members may be successively reduced in diameter and removed by a single operation.- This is an important feature, as it allows structures to be made wherein very long openings or cells are provided. The unit feature also allows one to make drains and sewers by pouring thenr in their complete state. Referring again to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that upon thewall members 12, 13, 14, and 15, I provide support-ing members 20. These supporting members, as shown, are small angle irons which have one web secured to the wall members while'the other web projects up from these members. These supporting members are apertured to receive operating rods 21. These operating rods are spaced apart and are freely mounted in the aperturesand may turn and also may. have longitudinal movement in these apertimes. In order to hold the rods the position indicated. I provide springs 22 shown as flat springs which are fitted over the rods and held by fastening members 23. These fastening members 23 as shown in Fig. 8 comprises washer-like discs which are fitted in slots on the rods 21. The ends of the springs may be secured to the supporting members '20 by fastening members '24, or they may be loose at the outer ends if desired. Adjacent the inner edge of the members 12, 13, 14 and extending actuating members 30. These members like the members are preferably in the form of angle irons and eachhas one web secured to inner walls of the wall members 12, 13, 14, and 15. The actuating members like the supporting members 20, are

I arrange longitudinally vided with cam surfaces apertured to receive the operating rods 21. From the foregoing description and from an examination of Fig. 2 it will be'apparent that each half of the form is supported in assembled position by means of the supporting members and the actuating members 30, united through the operatingrods 21.

The actuating members are provided at spaced intervals along their opposed faces with earns 32. In order to provide means for engaging the cams 32. I provide an operating bar 35. This operating bar is proon both faces thereof as shown at 36. These cam surfaces engage the cams 32 when the operating bar is moved longitudinally and hold the wall members in extended relation against the tension of the springs 22. When the operating bar 1s moved vertically the springs 22 force the supporting members 20 toward each other thus movlng the wall members 12, 13,.

Hand 15 toward each other,

. Although in Fig. 2 I have shown but wall members 12 and 13, it will be understood that these wall members are arranged opposite the wall members 14 and 15 which are of similar construction.

The operating bar of considerable width and is provided with the cam surfaces adjacent each edge thereof so one bar operates the cam 32 on all the four wall members 12, 13, 14, and 15 to increase and decrease the width of the form.

In order to move the wall member 12 toward the wall member 15 and to move the wall member 13 toward the wall member 14 to increase and decrease the thickness of the form, I provide slots in the actuating bar These slots have cam surfaces 41 therein and the slots are formed to receive the operating rods 21. By referring to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that in the former figure the operating rods 21 are shown adja centthe top of the slots 40. This causes the wall members 12 and 15 and 13 and 14 to be spaced in their extreme position. \Vhen the operating bar 35 is raised to the posi-. tron shown in Fig. 6, the operating I'Otj s 21 move along the slot 40 to the position shown in thisfigure and the cam surface 41 of the slot 40 brings the operating rods 21 toward each other thus bringing the wall members 12 and 15 toward each other and also bring ing the walls 131 and 14 simultaneously toward each other.

In order to assemble the device the slots 40 areshoWn as open ended. This enables the operating bars to be readily inserted in position. The position of the parts is such that normally the operating rods 21 are spaced from the ends of the slots 40 so that the whole device will not readily collapse.

In'order to lift the operating bar I show a handle mechanism 45 which is pivoted as at 46 upon abracket 47 supported through this cross bar.

on the operating bar 35. A link 50 is eccentrically mounted upon the handle member 45 at one end and at theother end engages an actuating member 30 as shown in Fig. 4. When the operating handle 45 is rocked it will be seen that the operating bar 35 will be raised orlowered relative-tothe wall members 12, 13, 14, and 15 depending on the direction of the movement of the handle. Ad'acent the top of the form I show a cross 11' 'The operatin bar 35 extends The cross bar has suspendedthereon a pair of auxiliary operating bars 56. These auxiliary operating bars 56 like the primary 0 crating bar 35 have slots 40 provided wit cam surfaces. "hese slots engage over the operating rods 21 and assist in the operation thus supplementing the action of the operatin bar 35.

1 preferably provide a plurality of the crossbars which are arranged at spaced intervals along the form to provide rigidity and in order to maintain a correct alignment of the auxiliary operating bars 56 on the bars to arrange angle members 57 which are secured to the wall members 12, 13, 14, and 15. v I

In order that the device may be used as a unit for work where'along form is desired, I arrange upon the lowermost portions of the operating bars 35 and 56 a plurality of rings 60. These rings are adapted to be connected through a sna member 61 with a chain 62 fastened to t e top of the bars From the fore oing description it will be apparent after the concrete has set, I may first actuate the uppermost handle 45 thus the cross sectional area of the uppermost form. Continually pulling on this formwill tighten the chains beneath this form thus raising the underneath handle and reducing causing the underneath form tobe substan-' tially reduced in size. This operation will be repeated in continuous. succession until all oft-he forms have been removed.

Instead of a single wide operating bar, I may use a pair of narrow barsas shown in Fig. 10. Each of these bars shown at 70 is provided with slots 40 and in order to hold the bars spaced, I secure upon theop posed face thereof links 71 which may be fixed as at 72 tothe bar and may be pivotally united by a pin 73. Apertures 74 arranged in series along the bar 70 are adapted to receive pins 75 which secure the ends of the links 71 thus allowing the bar 70 to be held in spaced relation. 7

In Fig. 12 I show a slight modification of my invention wherein I provide interposed Y12 and 13. The

plates 80 and 81 between the wall members plates 80 and 81 are provided with longitudinall extending supporting members 82 in the form of angle bars. These members 82 are substantially the same as the members 20 and function in the same manner. In this way, I may provide for cores of varying size. It will also be apparent that by using a plurality of my devices side by side that I can provide for cores of any desired size.

In order to provide proper alignment of the cores when used as a unit, I provide guides 88 on the bottom of the wall members. The guides fit in the upper part of each superimposed form.

Referring to Fig. 13 it will be seen that instead of the springs 22 I may use a coil spring 84 which may be secured upon the operating loads 21.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a building form, a plurality of rigid Wall members, each consisting of a strip of metal, each of said strips being bent to form two portions arranged at right angles to each other, means disposed within said wall members to hold said members in position,

means to alter the cross sectional area of the form in two dimensions, means tolock said form in one position and resilient means to urge certain of said walls in one direction.

2. In a building form, a plurality of wall members, each of said members comprising four angularly shaped members, each having both ends thereof overlapping inter mediate the sides of the form to form a hol' low rectangular box-like form, means within said form to cause said overlapping portions to move ,to contract said form, said means comprising longitudinally extending actuating members, and transversely extend ing operating rods, and means to move said actuating members and said operating rods.

3. In a collapsible form, oppositely disposed rigid wall members, each comprising a side portion and an end portion, arranged at right angles to each other, supporting members extending longitudinally of said wall members, operating rods through said supporting members, an actuating member on each of said wall mem bers, an operating bar, means on said operating bar for moving the actuating members to alter the size of the form.

4:. In a building form, a plurality of wall members, each of said members comprising portions arranged at right angles to each passing other and having their ends overlapping to form a hollow rectangular box-like form, means within said form to cause said overlapping portions to move to contract said form, said means comprising longitudinally extending actuating members and transversely extending operating rods, an operating bar and means on said operating bar coacting with said actuating members and said operating rods to cause said wall members to slide along their overlapping faces.

5. In a collapsible form, four wall members disposed opposite each other in pairs, each member comprising a side portion and an end' portion, supporting members extending longitudinally of said wall members, operating rods passing through said supporting members, an actuating member on each of said wall members, an operating bar, coacting devices on said operating bar and said actuating members and other coacting devices'on said operating bar and said operating rods. a

6. A unitary form comprising a plurality of collapsible forms, each having four oppositely disposed wall members, each wall, member comprising a side portion and an end portion, supporting members extending longitudinally of said wall members, operating rods passing through said supporting members, an actuating member on each of said wall members, anoperating bar, means on said operating bar for moving the ac tuating members to alter the size of the form, means to operate the'operating bar, and means to connect the last mentioned means in adjacent forms.

7 In a collapsible form, four oppositely disposed wall members, each comprising a side portion andan end portion, supporting members extending longitudinally of said wall members, operating rods pass.- ing through said supporting members, an actuating member on each of said wall members, an operating bar, said operating bar having camsfthereon, cams on said actuating members coacting with the cams on the operating bar, said operating bar having slots therein, similar to the cam slots in the V first mentioned operating bar, and means to move said operating bar.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

IRA J. KUERT. 

